Rock claw for demolition hammer

ABSTRACT

A rock claw for attaching to a corner of a demolition hammer, the rock claw including a first wall having a first inner side surface, a second wall having a second inner side surface joined to the first inner side surface along a first intersection, and a third wall having a third inner side surface. The third inner side surface is joined to the first inner side surface along a second intersection and the third inner side surface is joined to the second inner side surface along a third intersection.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a Reissue of U.S. Pat. No. 10,604,910, the entirecontent and disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates generally to demolition hammers, and morespecifically to rock claws for demolition hammers.

BACKGROUND

Demolition hammers are used on work sites to break up hard objects suchas rocks, concrete, asphalt, frozen ground, or other materials. Thedemolition hammers may be mounted to machines, such as back hoes andexcavators, or may be hand-held. Such demolition hammers may include apneumatically or hydraulically actuated power cell having an impactsystem operatively coupled to a tool that extends from the demolitionhammer to engage the hard object. The impact system generates repeated,longitudinally directed forces against a proximal end of the tool. Thedistal end of the tool, extending outside of the housing, may bepositioned against the hard object to break it up.

During operation, the hard objects may need to be rearranged orreoriented to better position them for breaking by the demolitionhammer. Demolition hammer manufacturers discourage operators from usingthe tool to rearrange or reorient the hard objects because excessiveside forces on the tool may damage the tool, seals, bushings, or otherdemolition hammer components. As a result, demolition hammermanufacturers may include rock claws on the demolition hammer that areused to push against the hard objects while protecting the demolitionhammer housing and tool.

Rock claws are areas on the bottom portion of a demolition hammer thatare built-up to absorb the abrasion and wear from frequent pushing andscraping against hard objects. Most manufacturers provide a rock claw byextending an end plate of the demolition hammer out beyond the profileof the housing. The cantilevered portion of the end plate is typicallyreinforced with other plates and gussets for strength.

After extended use, the end plate must be replaced due to wear on therock claw portion. Since, however, the end plate is structurally a partof the functioning demolition hammer (i.e. the end plate helps supportother portions of demolition hammer housing and power cell), replacingthe end plate requires additional care, such as, for example, holdingthe housing structure square while the end plate is replaced.

In U.S. Pat. No. 8,500,207 to Nickels et al., the demolition hammerincludes rock claws that are separate components attached to theexternal surface of the demolition hammer. The rock claws are weldedinto place along the side edges of the demolition hammer and include afirst portion that extends up the side of the housing to protect thehousing side surface and also a second portion that extends along thebottom of the housing to protect the bottom portion of the distal end ofthe housing and the end plate. The second portion includes a first legspaced apart from a second leg to provide a recess that allows the rockclaw to protect the distal end of the demolition hammer withoutobstructing the tool that extends from the demolition hammer.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

According to certain aspects of this disclosure, a rock claw forattaching to a corner of a demolition hammer includes a first wallhaving a first inner side surface, a second wall having a second innerside surface joined to the first inner side surface along a firstintersection, and a third wall having a third inner side surface. Thethird inner side surface is joined to the first inner side surface alonga second intersection and the third inner side surface is joined to thesecond inner side surface along a third intersection.

In another aspect of the disclosure, a demolition hammer includes ahousing having first side wall, a second side wall, and a bottom wall,wherein an intersection of the first side wall, the second side wall,and the bottom wall define a corner. The demolition hammer also includesa power cell positioned within the housing, a tool disposed in the powercell and projecting from the housing through an opening in the bottomwall, and a rock claw attached to an external surface of the housing.The rock claw includes a first wall, a second wall joined to the firstwall, a third wall joined to both the first wall and the second wall,wherein the first wall covers a portion of the first side wall, thesecond wall covers a portion of the second side wall, and the third wallcover a portion of the bottom wall.

In another aspect of the disclosure that may be combined with any ofthese aspects, the rock claw is configured as an attachable component toa fully functional demolition hammer.

In another aspect of the disclosure that may be combined with any ofthese aspects, the rock claw is may be removed from the demolitionhammer without disassembling any portion of the hammer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparentfrom the description of embodiments using the accompanying drawings. Inthe drawings:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a machine having a demolitionhammer.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a housing ofthe demolition hammer of FIG. 1 , with exemplary embodiments of rockclaws attached;

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the distal end of thedemolition hammer of FIG. 1

FIG. 4 is first perspective view of the rock claw of FIG. 2 ;

FIG. 5 is second perspective view of the rock claw of FIG. 2 ;

FIG. 6 is a third perspective view of the rock claw of FIG. 2 ;

FIG. 7 is a side view of the rock claw of FIG. 2 ;

FIG. 8 is a top view of the rock claw of FIG. 2 ; and

FIG. 9 is a cross section view of the rock claw of FIG. 2 , taken alongthe 9-9 line of FIG. 8 .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1 , a demolition hammer 10 is attached to a machine12. The machine 12 may embody a fixed or mobile machine that performssome type of operation associated with an industry such as mining,construction, farming, transportation, or any other industry known inthe art. For example, the machine 12 may be an earth moving machine suchas a backhoe, an excavator, a dozer, a loader, a motor grader, or anyother earth moving machine. The machine 12 may include an implementsystem 14 configured to move the demolition hammer 10, a drive system 16for propelling the machine 12, a power source 18 that provides power tothe implement system 14 and the drive system 16, and an operator station20 for operator control of the implement system 14 and the drive system16.

The power source 18 may embody an engine such as, for example, a dieselengine, a gasoline engine, a gaseous fuel-powered engine or any othertype of combustion engine known in the art. It is contemplated that thepower source 18 may alternatively embody a non-combustion source ofpower such as a fuel cell, a power storage device, or another sourceknown in the art. The power source 18 may produce a mechanical orelectrical power output that may then be converted to hydraulicpneumatic power for moving the implement system 14.

Implement system 14 may include a linkage structure acted on by fluidactuators to move the demolition hammer 10. The linkage structure ofimplement system 14 may be complex, for example, including three or moredegrees of freedom. The implement system 14 may carry the demolitionhammer 10 for breaking an object or ground surface 26.

The structure and operation of a demolition hammer are briefly describedbelow. Demolition hammers are known in the art, and since it will beapparent to one skilled in the art that the rock claws disclosed may beused with a variety of demolition hammers, a detailed description of allthe components and operation of a demolition hammer is not provided.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3 , the demolition hammer 10 includes a housing30 having a proximal end 32 and a distal end 34. The housing 30 may beformed as a single piece or multiple portions that are welded orotherwise joined together. The distal end 34 of the housing 30 includesa plurality of side walls 36. In the illustrated embodiment, the distalend 34 includes four, parallel side walls 36. In other embodiments,however, the distal end 34 may include more or less than four side wallsand/or the plurality of side walls may not be parallel. Referring toFIG. 2 , the plurality of side walls 36 includes a first side wall 37and a second side wall 38. The first side wall 37 has a width Ws.

An end wall 39, such as a removable end plate, defining an opening 40,is attached to the distal end 34 of the housing 30. The intersection oftwo adjacent side walls 36 and the end wall 39 forms a bottom corner 41(illustrated by dashed lines in FIG. 9 ) of the demolition hammer 10.For example, the intersection of the first side wall 37, the second sidewall 38, and the end wall 39 forms a bottom corner 41. In the depictedembodiment, the demolition hammer 10 includes four bottom corners 41.

A power cell 42 is disposed inside the housing 30. The power cell 42includes several internal components of the demolition hammer 10. Asshown in FIG. 3 , the power cell 42 provides an impact assembly thatincludes a piston 44. The piston 44 is operatively positioned within thepower cell 42 to move along an axis 46. Wear plates 48 are interposedbetween the power cell 42 and the housing side walls 36. A distalportion of the power cell 42 includes a tool 50 that is operativelypositioned to move along the axis 46. A lower bushing 52 and an upperbushing 54 are positioned in the power cell 42 for guiding the tool 50during operation of the demolition hammer 10.

The demolition hammer 10 may be powered by any suitable means, such aspneumatically-powered or hydraulically-powered. For example, a hydraulicor pneumatic circuit (not shown) may provide pressurized fluid to drivethe piston 44 toward the tool 50 during a work stroke and to return thepiston 44 during a return stroke. The hydraulic or pneumatic circuit isnot described further, since it will be apparent to one skilled in theart that any suitable hydraulic or pneumatic systems may be used toprovide pressurized fluid to the piston 44.

In operation, near the end of the work stroke, the piston 44 strikes thetool 50. The distal end of the tool 50 may be positioned to engage anobject or ground surface 26 (FIG. 1 ). The impact of the piston 44 onthe tool 50 may cause a shock wave that fractures the hard object (e.g.rock) causing it to break apart.

The demolition hammer 10 further includes a first rock claw 60, a secondrock claw 62, a third rock claw 64, and a fourth rock claw 66. In someembodiments, the demolition hammer 10 may include more or less than fourrock claws. The rock claws 60, 62, 64, 66 are separate components thatare configured to be attached to and removed from exterior surfaces 70of a fully functional, assembled demolition hammer. For example, in thedepicted embodiment, each of the rock claws 60, 62, 64, 66 is attachedto separate bottom corners 41 of the demolition hammer 10. The rockclaws 60, 62, 64, 66 may be attached to the exterior surfaces 70 by anysuitable manner, such as welding, fasteners, or other suitable means. Inthe disclosed embodiment, the rock claws 60, 62, 64, 66 are attached bywelding.

The rock claws 60, 62, 64, 66 may be formed from a variety of materials.Since the rock claws 60, 62, 64, 66 are exposed to abrasive wear fromcontact with hard objects, the rock claws 60, 62, 64, 66 may be formedfrom a suitable wear resistant metal, ceramic, composite, or othermaterial. In the depicted embodiment, the rock claws 60, 62, 64, 66 arecast from a wear resistant steel alloy.

The rock claws 60, 62, 64, 66 may be configured in a variety of ways.Any configuration that can be attached to the housing 30 and can be usedto engage and move hard objects while adequately protecting the distalend 34 of the housing 30 and the tool 50 from damage during use may beused. In the depicted embodiment, the rock claws 60, 62, 64, 66 areconfigured identically. Thus, the description of the first rock claw 60is equally applicable to the second, third and fourth rock claw 62, 64,66 which are not described further in detail. In other embodiments,however, one or more of the rock claws 60, 62, 64, 66 may be configureddifferently than another of the rock claws.

Referring to FIGS. 4-9 , an exemplary embodiment of the first rock claw60 is configured to cover one of the bottom corners 41 of the demolitionhammer 10 and protect the side walls 36 and the end wall 39 proximatethe bottom corner 41. The first rock claw 60 can be configured in avariety of ways. Any configuration that covers one of the bottom corners41 and suitably protects the sidewalls and/or the end wall proximate thebottom corner 41 from damage by hard objects may be used.

In the depicted embodiment, the first rock claw 60 includes a first wall72, a second wall 74, and a third wall 76 extending between the firstwall 72 and the second wall 74. The first wall 72 and the second wall 74intersect along an axis A (FIG. 4 ). In the depicted embodiment, thefirst rock claw 60 is symmetric along the axis A. Thus, the first wall72 is a mirror image of the second wall 74. In other embodiments,however, the first wall 72 may differ from the second wall 74.

The first wall 72 includes a distal portion 80 and a proximal portion82. The first wall 72 includes an inner face surface 84, an outer facesurface 86 opposite the inner face surface 84, and a lateral edgesurface 88 extending between the inner face surface 84 and the outerface surface 86. The inner face surface 84 includes a height H1 and awidth W1. In the depicted embodiment, the height H1 is maximum adjacentthe second wall 74 and the width W1 is maximum adjacent the third wall76.

The lateral edge surface 88 extends from the distal portion 80 to theproximal portion 82. The lateral edge surface 88 may be configured in avariety of ways, such as for example, different shapes, thicknesses, andcontours.

Referring to FIG. 7 , in the illustrated embodiment, the lateral edgesurface 88 includes a first portion 90, a second portion 92, a thirdportion 94, a fourth portion 96, and a fifth portion 98. The firstportion 90 extends parallel to a horizontal plane, as oriented in FIG. 7, or is curved or angled slightly downward toward the third wall 76. Thesecond portion 92 extends downward toward the third wall 76 at an angleα. In one exemplary embodiment, the angle α is in the range of 50degrees to 70 degrees, or 60 degrees.

The third portion 94 extends from the second portion 92 downward towardthe third wall 76 at an angle Φ that is less than the angle α. In oneexemplary embodiment, the angle Φ is in the range of 15 degrees to 35degrees, or 25 degrees. Thus, the second portion 92 and the thirdportion 94 form a concave outer edge portion of the first wall 72.

The fourth portion 96 extends from the third portion 94 downward towardthe third wall 76 at an angle μ that is greater than the angle α. In oneexemplary embodiment, the angle μ is in the range of 70 degrees to 90degrees, or 80 degrees. The fifth portion 98 extends from the fourthportion 96 downward toward the third wall 76 vertically. In theillustrated embodiment, the first wall 72 has a first thickness Td atthe distal portion 80 and a second thickness Tp at the proximal portion82 which is thicker than the first thickness Td. In one exemplaryembodiment the ratio of the second thickness to the first thickness(Tp:Td) is in the range of 2.5 to 4.5, or 3.5.

In the illustrated embodiment, the inner face surface 84 is configuredto generally conform to the distal end 34 of the depicted housing 30.For example, the inner face surface 84 may be configured to be parallelto the side wall 36 of the housing 30 when installed thereon. In otherembodiments, the inner face surface 84 may not generally conform to theside wall 36 of the housing 30 but still cover at least a portion of theside all 36. In the illustrated embodiment, the inner face surface 84includes a semicircular recess or groove 100 extending along the width Wof the inner face surface 84 adjacent the third wall 76.

For a least a portion of the first wall 72, the outer face surface 86tapers away from the inner face surface 84 in the direction of theproximal portion 82. As shown in FIG. 9 , near the proximal portion 82of the first wall 72, the thickness of the first wall 72 increases toform a protruding region 104. For example, the thickness of theprotruding region 104 may be the thickness Tp of the proximal portion82. The protruding region 104 extends along the width W1 of the innerface surface 84 to form an area of increased thickness extending outwardfrom the outer face surface 86. The protruding region 104 extends alongthe width W1 from the location where the first wall 72 joins the secondwall 74 to the lateral edge surface 88. In the illustrated embodiment,the protruding region 104 begins decreasing in thickness toward thelateral edge surface 88. In the illustrated embodiment, for example, theprotruding region 104 begins decreasing in thickness in the range of ¼to ¾ of the width W1 toward the lateral edge surface 88, or midway alongthe outer face surface 86 toward the lateral edge surface 88. In theillustrated embodiment, the protruding region 104 includes a taperedregion 106 in which the thickness of the protruding region 104decreases.

As indicated above, in the depicted embodiment, the first wall 72 is amirror image of the second wall 74. Thus, the description of the firstwall 72 applies equally to the second wall 74. As with the first wall72, the second wall 74 includes a distal portion 110, a proximal portion112, an inner face surface 114, an outer face surface 116 opposite theinner face surface 114, and a lateral edge surface 118 extending betweenthe inner face surface 114 and the outer face surface 116. The lateraledge surface 118 extends from the distal portion 110 to the proximalportion 112.

The second wall 74 is thicker at the proximal portion 112 than at thedistal portion 110, similar to the first wall 72. The inner face surface114 is configured to generally conform to the distal end 34 of thedepicted housing 30. For example, the inner face surface 114 may beconfigured to be parallel to the side wall 36 of the housing 30 wheninstalled thereon. In the illustrated embodiment, the inner face surface114 includes a semicircular recess or groove 130 extending along thewidth of the inner face surface 114 adjacent the third wall 76.

For a least a portion of the second wall 74, the outer face surface 116tapers away from the inner face surface 114 in the direction of theproximal portion 112. As shown in FIG. 6 , near the proximal portion 112of the second wall 74, the thickness of the second wall 74 increases toform a protruding region 134. For example, the thickness of theprotruding region 104 may be the thickness Tp of the proximal portion82. The protruding region 104 extends along the width W1 of the innerface surface 84 to form an area of increased thickness extending outwardfrom the outer face surface 86. The protruding region 104 extends alongthe width of the second wall 74 from the location where the second wall74 joins the first wall 72 to the lateral edge surface 118. In theillustrated embodiment, the protruding region 134 begins decreasing inthickness toward the lateral edge surfaces 118. In the illustratedembodiment, for example, the protruding region 134 begins decreasing inthickness in the range of ¼ to ¾ of the width of the second wall 74toward the lateral edge surface 118, or midway along the outer facesurface 116 toward the lateral edge surface 118. In the illustratedembodiment, the protruding region 134 includes a tapered region 136 inwhich the thickness of the protruding region 134 decreases.

The first wall 72 is joined to the second wall 74, such as for example,by being formed integrally with the second wall 74. The inner facesurface 114 of the second wall 74 is joined to the inner face surface 84of the first wall 72 along a first intersection 150 (FIG. 4 ). In theillustrated embodiment, the first intersection 150 is linear. In otherembodiments, however the first intersection 150 may not be linear.

In the illustrated embodiment, the third wall 76 is triangular. In otherembodiments, however, the third wall 76 may be shaped other thantriangular. The third wall 76 includes an inner face surface 154, anouter face surface 156 opposite the inner face surface 154, and alateral edge surface 158 extending between the inner face surface 154and the outer face surface 156.

In the illustrated embodiment, the inner face surface 154 is planar andthe outer face surface 156 includes a recessed portion 160 at a locationintermediate or inward from where the third wall 76 joins the first wall72 and joins the second wall 74. The recessed portion 160 may beconfigured in a variety of ways. The recessed portion 160 results in thethird wall 76 having a thickness Tr at the recessed portion 160 that isless in the thickness T3 of the third wall 76 adjacent where the thirdwall 76 joins the first wall 72 and/or is less than the thickness of thethird wall 76 where the third wall 76 joins the second wall 74.

In other embodiments, however, the inner face surface 154 may be otherthan planar. The third wall 76 is joined to the first wall 72, such asfor example, by being formed integrally with the first wall 72. Thethird wall 76 is also joined to the second wall 74, such as for example,by being formed integrally with the second wall 74. The inner facesurface 154 of the third wall 76 is joined to the inner face surface 84of the first wall 72 along a second intersection 170 (FIG. 4 ). In theillustrated embodiment, the second intersection 170 is linear. In otherembodiments, however the second intersection 170 may not be linear.Similarly, the inner face surface 154 of the third wall 76 is joined tothe inner face surface 114 of the second wall 74 along a thirdintersection 172 (FIG. 4 ). In the illustrated embodiment, the thirdintersection 172 is linear. In other embodiments, however the thirdintersection 172 may not be linear.

In the illustrated embodiment, the first intersection, the secondintersection, and the third intersection intersect at a point to form aninner corner 174. In other embodiments, however, the first intersection150, the second intersection 170, and the third intersection 172 may notintersect at a single point. In the illustrated embodiment, the innerface surface 154 of the third wall 76 is perpendicular to the inner facesurface 84 of the first wall 72 and/or to the inner face surface 114 ofthe second wall 74. In one embodiment, the each of the inner facesurfaces 84, 114, 154 is perpendicular to the other two inner sidesurfaces.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present disclosure is applicable to demolition hammers 10. Thedisclosed rock claws 60, 62, 64, 66 can be attached to a fullyfunctional, assembled demolition hammer 10 to provide protection to thedistal end 34 of the demolition hammer 10 such that an operator can usethe rock claws to manipulate hard objects, such as boulders, to betterposition the objects for breaking.

As shown in FIG. 2 , each of the rock claws 60, 62, 64, 66 can beattached to a corresponding bottom corner 41 of the demolition hammer10. For example, the first rock claw 60 can be attached to the exteriorsurface 70 of the housing 30 to cover the bottom corner 41 formed by theintersection of the first side wall 37, the second side wall 38, and theend wall 39. When installed, the first wall 72 of the first rock claw 60covers a portion of the first side wall 37, the second wall 74 covers aportion of the second side wall 38, and the third wall 76 cover aportion of the end wall 39. Further, due to the shape of the first wall72 and the second wall 74, the first rock claw 60 extends further alongthe height of the first side wall 37 and the second side wall 38 at alocation where the first side wall 37 and the second side wall 38intersect than at a location more central to each of the side walls 37,38. In the same fashion as the first rock claw 60, the second rock claw62, the third rock claw 64, and the fourth rock claw 66 can each beattached to the exterior surface 70 of the demolition hammer 10 to covera corresponding bottom corner 41 of the demolition hammer 10.

Conventional designs for demolition hammers and rock claws placed morewear material, at the distal end of the demolition hammer, along theface of side walls 36 rather than at the corners since it was thoughtthat more wear occurred along the sides of the demolition hammer.Analysis by Applicant, however, shows that more wear occurs at thebottom corners of the demolition hammer, at least in some applications.Thus, the rock claws 60, 62, 64, 66 protect the housing 30, particularlyadjacent the bottom corners 41, and also protect the bottom portion ofthe distal end 34 of the housing 30 and the end wall 39 in the areasmost prone to wear. Further, the rock claws 60, 62, 64, 66 protect thedistal end 34 of the demolition hammer 10 without obstructing movementof the tool 50 that extends from the demolition hammer 10.

The rock claws 60, 62, 64, 66 may be attached to exterior surface 70 byany suitable means, such as welding. For example, the first rock claw 60can be positioned against the exterior surface 70 of the housing 30 andwelded into place, such as along perimeter of the first rock claw 60,where the inner face surfaces 84, 114, 154 meet the lateral edgesurfaces 88, 118, 158, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 2 , the width W1 of a first wall 72 of the first rockclaw 60 is such that the first rock claw 60 extends along less than halfof the width Ws of the first side wall 37 of the housing 30. Thus, tworock claws positioned on two adjacent bottom corners 41 of the housing30 are spaced apart from the each other such that a gap 180 is formedbetween the two rock claws. The gap 180 provides convenient access forwelding the rock claws to the exterior surface 70. In other embodiments,however, there may not be a gap between two rock claws.

Since the rock claws 60, 62, 64, 66 are separate from and attachable tothe demolition hammer 10, when any of the rock claws 60, 62, 64, 66needs replacing, it can be cut from the exterior surface 70 and replacedwithout disassembling the demolition hammer 10. Furthermore, in someembodiments, each of the rock claws 60, 62, 64, 66 are symmetric aboutthe axis A. Thus, each of the rock claws 60, 62, 64, 66 isinterchangeable with another of the rock claws 60, 62, 64, 66 and eachof the rock claws 60, 62, 64, 66 can be attached to any of the bottomcorners 41 of the demolition hammer 10.

While the disclosed embodiments have been illustrated and described indetail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration anddescription is to be considered as exemplary and not restrictive incharacter, it being understood that only certain exemplary embodimentshave been shown and described and that all changes and modificationsthat come within the scope of the disclosure are desired to beprotected.

Accordingly, this disclosure includes all modifications and equivalentsof the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permittedby applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-describedelements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by thedisclosure unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearlycontradicted by context.

What is claimed is:
 1. A rock claw for attaching to a corner of ademolition hammer, the rock claw comprising: a first wall having a firstinner side surface; a second wall having a second inner side surfacejoined to the first inner side surface along a first intersection; and athird wall having a third inner side surface, the third inner sidesurface joined to the first inner side surface along a secondintersection and the third inner side surface joined to the second innerside surface along a third intersection; wherein the first wall has aheight that is larger adjacent the first intersection than at a locationthat is more distal from the first intersection.
 2. The rock claw ofclaim 1, wherein the first intersection, the second intersection, andthe third intersection meet at a point.
 3. The rock claw of claim 1,wherein the third inner side surface is perpendicular to at least one ofthe first inner side surface and the second inner side surface.
 4. Therock claw of claim 1, wherein each of the first inner side surface, thesecond inner side surface, and the third inner side surface isperpendicular to the other two inner side surfaces.
 5. The rock claw ofclaim 1, wherein the first wall has a first end portion adjacent boththe first intersection and the second intersection, and a second endportion opposite the first end portion, wherein the first end portionhas a first thickness and the second end portion has a second thicknessthat is less than the first thickness.
 6. The rock claw of claim 5,wherein a ratio of the first thickness to the second thickness is in therange of 2.5 to 4.5.
 7. The rock claw of claim 1, wherein the thirdinner side surface is triangular.
 8. The rock claw of claim 1, whereinthe rock claw is symmetric along an axis defined by the firstintersection.
 9. The rock claw of claim 1, wherein the third wall has afirst thickness adjacent the first wall, a second thickness adjacent thesecond wall, and a third thickness intermediate the first wall andsecond wall, and wherein the third thickness is less than at least oneof the first thickness and the second thickness.
 10. The rock claw ofclaim 1, wherein the first inner side surface includes a semicircularrecess adjacent the third inner side surface.
 11. A demolition hammer,comprising: a housing having first side wall, a second side wall, and abottom wall, wherein an intersection of the first side wall, the secondside wall, and the bottom wall define a corner; a power cell positionedwithin the housing; a tool disposed in the power cell and projectingfrom the housing through an opening in the bottom wall; and a rock clawattached to an external surface of the housing, the rock clawcomprising: a first wall; a second wall joined to the first wall; and athird wall joined to both the first wall and the second wall;, whereinthe first wall of the rock claw covers a portion of the first side wallof the housing, the second wall of the rock claw covers a portion of thesecond side wall of the housing, and the third wall cover of the rockclaw covers a portion of the bottom wall of the housing, and wherein thehousing first side wall of the housing has a height and the first wallof the rock claw extends further along the height of the first side wallof the housing at a location adjacent the second side wall of thehousing than at a location on the first side wall of the housing that ismore distal from the second side wall of the housing.
 12. The demolitionhammer of claim 11, wherein the first side wall has a width and thefirst wall of the rock claw extends along less than half of the width ofthe first side wall.
 13. The demolition hammer of claim 11, furthercomprising: a third side wall, wherein an intersection of the secondside wall, the third side wall, and the bottom wall define a secondcorner; a second rock claw attached to an external surface of thehousing, the second rock claw comprising: a first wall a second walljoined to the first wall; a third wall joined to both the first wall andthe second wall; wherein the first wall of the second rock claw covers aportion of the second side wall, the second wall of the second rock clawcovers a portion of the third side wall, and the third wall of thesecond rock claw cover a portion of the bottom wall.
 14. The demolitionhammer of claim 13, wherein the second rock claw is interchangeable withthe rock claw.
 15. The demolition hammer of claim 13, wherein the rockclaw is spaced apart from the second rock claw.
 16. The demolitionhammer of claim 13, further comprising a fourth side wall, wherein anintersection of the third side wall, the fourth side wall, and thebottom wall define a third corner and an intersection of the fourth sidewall, the first side wall, and the bottom wall define a fourth corner; athird rock claw attached to an external surface of the housing, thethird rock claw comprising: a first wall a second wall joined to thefirst wall; a third wall joined to both the first wall and the secondwall; wherein the first wall of the third rock claw covers a portion ofthe third side wall, the second wall of the third rock claw covers aportion of the fourth side wall, and the third wall of the third rockclaw cover a portion of the bottom wall; and a fourth rock claw attachedto an external surface of the housing, the fourth rock claw comprising:a first wall a second wall joined to the first wall; a third wall joinedto both the first wall and the second wall; wherein the first wall ofthe fourth rock claw covers a portion of the fourth side wall, thesecond wall of the fourth rock claw covers a portion of the first sidewall, and the third wall of the fourth rock claw cover a portion of thebottom wall.
 17. The demolition hammer of claim 13, wherein the firstwall of the second rock claw has a first end portion adjacent the thirdwall and a second end portion opposite the first end portion, whereinthe first end portion has a first thickness and the second end portionhas a second thickness that is less than the first thickness.
 18. A rockclaw for attaching to a corner of a demolition hammer, the rock clawcomprising: a first wall having a first inner side surface; a secondwall having a second inner side surface joined to the first inner sidesurface along a first intersection; and a third wall having a thirdinner side surface, the third inner side surface joined to the firstinner side surface along a second intersection and the third inner sidesurface joined to the second inner side surface along a thirdintersection, wherein the rock claw is symmetric along an axis definedby the first intersection.
 19. The rock claw of claim 18, wherein thethird inner side surface is triangular.
 20. The rock claw of claim 1,wherein the first and second inner side surfaces have respective heightsfrom and respective widths along the second intersection and the thirdintersection, wherein the height of each of the first and second innerside surfaces is maximum adjacent the first intersection and the widthof each of the first and second inner side surfaces is maximum adjacentthe third wall, and wherein the height of each of the first and secondinner side surfaces decreases in a width direction of the first andsecond walls from the maximum height at the first intersection away fromthe first intersection.
 21. The rock claw of claim 1, wherein for eachof the first wall and the second wall a first end is at the firstintersection and a second end is a free end that is opposite the firstend and the first intersection.
 22. The rock claw of claim 1, whereinthe first wall is for covering a portion of a first side wall of ahousing of a demolition hammer, the second wall is for covering aportion of a second side wall of the housing of the demolition hammer,and the third wall is for covering a portion of an end wall of thehousing of the demolition hammer, and wherein respective shapes of thefirst and second walls of the rock claw are configured such that therock claw is for extending further along a height of the first andsecond side walls of the housing of the demolition hammer at the firstintersection then at a location more central to each of the first andsecond side walls of the housing of the demolition hammer.
 23. Thedemolition hammer of claim 11, wherein the first wall of the rock clawhas a first inner side surface, wherein the second wall of the rock clawhas a second inner side surface joined to the first inner side surfaceof the first wall along a first intersection, wherein the third wall ofthe rock claw has a third inner side surface joined to the first innerside surface of the first wall along a second intersection and thesecond inner side surface of the second wall along a third intersection,wherein the first and second inner side surfaces have respective heightsfrom and respective widths along the second intersection and the thirdintersection, wherein the height is maximum adjacent the second wall andthe width is maximum adjacent the third wall, wherein the height of eachof the first and second inner side surfaces is maximum adjacent thefirst intersection and the width of each of the first and second innerside surfaces is maximum adjacent the third wall, and wherein shapes ofthe first and second walls of the rock claw are configured such that therock claw extends further along a height of the first and second sidewalls of the housing of the demolition hammer at the first intersectionthan at a location more central to each of the first and second sidewalls of the housing of the demolition hammer.
 24. The demolition hammerof claim 11, wherein each of the first wall and the second wall of therock claw has a free end opposite an intersection at which the secondwall is joined to the first wall.
 25. The rock claw of claim 18, whereinthe first and second walls have a height and a width, wherein the heightis maximum adjacent the first intersection and the width is maximumadjacent the third wall, and wherein the height decreases in a widthdirection of the first and second walls from the maximum height at thefirst intersection away from the first intersection.
 26. The rock clawof claim 18, wherein each of the first wall and the second wall has afree edge opposite the first intersection.